Hosting a Rust server can be a great deal of fun for you and your friends without having to deal with the frequent griefing of randoms in normal online play.

I started playing Rust back in the legacy days, when people were actually nice to each other (more or less) and didn’t kill on sight or senselessly grief.

But those days are over. Most Rust servers are full of jerks.

Making your own Rust server is a great way to make the game fun again, giving you total control of your world.

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you the fastest way to make your own Rust server, step-by-step.

There won’t be any room for error - follow the tutorial, and you’ll be up and running in 10 minutes!

Hosting a Rust Server The Easy Way

If you don’t want to know about the easy way to host a Rust server, skip this section and continue with the tutorial.

But if you’re interested, here’s the deal:

Hosting your own Rust server is a great way to learn the game, create base designs, practice, and have fun with a few friends.

It’s also a pain in the ass to manage, and takes a while to setup.

But there’s another problem:

When you host the server on your own PC, it’s going to consume your resources. Your computer not only has to run the game, it also has to run the server and manage everyone connected to the server.

Dedicated Rust server hosting is taxing on your system’s performance, not to mention your internet bandwidth. There are ways to improve your internet speed, but nothing you do will be enough to host more than 5-10 people on the server.

Furthermore, your friends can only connect to the server when it’s running on your PC, meaning you’d have to leave your computer on 24/7 to have a real Rust server that actually attracts a player base.

Quick Tip

If you want to have a real Rust server that can accomodate dozens of people and run 24/7 without compromising performance, paying for Rust server hosting is the way to go.

It's cheap, fast, and easy. Plus, it's the only way you'll be able to host a real Rust server. If you want to host a Rust server the easy way, check out our guide on the best Rust server hosting companies.

If you want to host a Rust dedicated server the easy way, you’re better off investing a small amount to pay for a dedicated server.

Hosting a Rust Server (The Hard Way)

Well, if paying for hosting isn’t your thing, I’ve got your back.

You’re about to learn exactly how to make a Rust server, step-by-step.

Let’s dive in:

Rust Server Requirements

64-Bit Windows 7, 8.1, or 10

Minimum 4GB RAM (but 8GB highly advised)

Minimum 6GB drive space

*If you’re hosting on a computer that’s separate from the one you’re playing Rust on, then 4GB of RAM is excellent for the dedicated server.

Paste it into your Rust server folder and overwrite the RustDedicated_Data folder that was there already

Once all of the files are finished copying over, start the server and allow it to finish its setup

When it’s finished, verify the Oxide version by typing the command oxide.version and it should look something like this

Adding Plugins to Rust Oxide

Now all that’s left is to add some plugins! For a list of the best Rust plugins for 2020 check out the very bottom of our Rust hosting list

Configuring and Running the Server

All of the tiles are set and you’re 100% ready to start up the server and get to joining! There isn’t really any configurations we can cover here, just play around with the Admin commands and figure out what everything does.

Navigate to the folder you chose to place your rust server folder (in our case C:\steamcmd\rust_server)

Double-click the RustDedicated executable to start your server

Wait for it to load

Now you’re ready to connect!

Batch Script File

To keep your server up to date and functioning properly or create a system to relieve the stress of constantly typing in commands, it’s a good idea to configure your Batch Script file which will automatically employ certain commands upon server startup.

Update Batch File

This file will offer you a way to easily check for updates whenever you might need to update your server.

Online

This method can be used any time you have access to the server console.

Make sure the server is running and the console is open

Enter the command ownerid “user-id” for administrators

Enter the command moderator “user-id” for administrators

Each time you promote a user, use the command serverwrite.cfg

Have the user log off and then back on to refresh their role

Offline

This method can only be used when the server is offline.

While the server is offline, go to your rust_server folder, server, then my_server_identity

Enter the folder labeled “cfg”

Edit the file “users.cfg” and use either of the same commands from above

If there is not a file named users.cfg, create a text document and name it that

Promoting Your Server

If you plan on trying to turn your dedicated server into a public masterpiece there are a couple routes you can take to promote your server.

First of all, before you put it out for the world to see, come up with a catchy server name and description for players to see on the server list. You can even change the loading picture to make your server stand out from the rest.

Second, take advantage of all the online resources at your disposal. Forums like the official PlayRust and Rust Server Directory subreddits are great places to start.

You can also post on Rust’s official discord server and try to garner a following there. If officiality isn’t your thing, there are hundreds of player-ran servers out there to advertise on.

Dedicated Rust Server vs Rust Server Hosting

Each type of hosting has its own tradeoffs. Use these pros and cons to choose whichever fits your Rust server needs best.

Dedicated Rust Server

Dedicated hosting, for the most part, is best for when you want to host a small server with a couple of friends.

Trying to grow past that small player count is difficult with the limited resources that your PC and internet can provide.

Pros:

Free

Full customization freedom

User serviceable

Cons:

Little to no protection

Uses personal resources like processing power and internet bandwidth

Requires a little know-how to set up and manage

Only fit for a small player count

Rust Server Hosting

While you have to pay a monthly fee to use the service, purchasing a host allows you to run much bigger and faster servers than you ever can on a dedicated connection.

Pros:

No strain on your internet or computer

Much faster

Included support team

Ease of use and quick setup

Cons:

Paid service

May limit control

May not allow direct access to server files

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions I get about Rust dedicated server hosting:

Can you play rust on a private server?

Yes, if you create your own server, you can play Rust privately with your friends (or yourself).

How much is a server on Rust?

If you setup your own Rust server, it’s free (aside from your electric/WiFi bill). Otherwise, most Rust server hosting companies like Host Havoc charge between $30 and $130 for a good Rust server.

What is the best Rust server provider?

Host Havoc and PingPerfect are two great options. If you want a cheap Rust server, go with Gameserverkings.

What is my Rust server IP?

As long as you’ve port forwarded, search “what is my IP” in Google and you’ll have your answer. If you’re using a hosting company for your Rust server, you’ll find your IP in the dashboard (control panel).

Conclusion

Hosting a Rust server is a great way to unwind with friends and escape the trolls that pollute official Rust servers.

Hopefully this guide helped you learn how to make a Rust server. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me for help.